My Pink Heart Party Painting

Pink Party Painting

Title: Pink Heart Party 

Medium: acrylic on canvas 

Size: 5 inches by 7 inches 

Year completed: 2020

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Write Up

I love combining blue with bright pink to create a beautiful color pallet. In this painting, each heart is a bit different but they all come together to form one painting. In a way, Pink Heart Party shows us that we even when we seem similar each one of us is unique and we can come together to create something of beauty.

Want More?

On YouTube, I do have a playlist dedicated to sped up paintings. I also have a section on this site where I share my visual arts portfolio along with my painting portfolio.

All My Wonderful Forms Of Creativity

All My Wonderful Forms Of Creativity

Having multiple creative outlets is a balancing act. If you didn’t know I write, paint, draw digitally, and do other things when I have time. Some days and weeks I feel put together with everything well balanced. Those weeks I have planned well and no outside forces have negatively affected my schedule. More often than not I am in a good habit of resting and recharging. Those weeks are great.

All My Wonderful Forms Of Creativity

Other weeks are a bit of a different story. It can seem one area or another starts slipping from my grasp. It’s like my plate gets bumped and jumbled up. Things don’t seem to fit into place those weeks.

All My Wonderful Forms Of Creativity

Then they are weeks where I don’t know what’s going on and just hanging on. I feel a bit crazy those weeks. It’s like I’m on a rollercoaster in the dark and just have to do what I can until I can reset my focus.

I would not trade all the crazy, stressful, or upside down weeks for anything though. Being creative is who I am. Each aspect of my creativity reflects a need of mine, and each outlet helps me differently. Writing poetry helps me explore emotions that I need to understand. Painting helps me express emotions that I need to express and feel, but may not need to put words to. Telling stories, whether they are fiction or non-fiction, helps me share truths and entertain at least myself. Drawing and working with clay or paper mache helps me think through things.

Want More?

If you would like to keep more up to date with what I am doing I am on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You can also read about my life in my series God Shows Up or in the category “Life.”

To Love Was Not Written Alone

To Love Was Not Written Alone

The craft of writing can be a solitary endeavor. If you have a day job and a life outside of writing, like most authors, writing a book can also be a lengthy process. Personally, it took me five years to complete my book To Love and a lot of alone time. 

I had people helping me

However, I did not write To Love in a void. Yes, I wrote and edited a good chunk of the book in my room or alone at the coffeehouse. There was also a good chunk of time that I wrote with a friend. He worked on his project as I worked on mine. This helped me stay focused and motivated, especially in the beginning. 

I also had my sister, who is a fellow writer and my editor, as needed support and help. I could turn to her to talk about aspects of my book and get early feedback.

It was with all my friends and family members that I wrote, illustrated, and published my memoir To Love. Even though writing is a solitary hobby or career, it goes smoother if you have other people to help you achieve your goals.

I had God on my side

Another thing you will need is faith. You need to believe the book you are writing needs to be a book. Your story or knowledge needs to be out in the world for others to read. 

I write about the faith it took to write To Love in the book. I talk about the journey the book itself is on. The book changed and morphed from a collection of thoughts into a memoir focused on love. With every change I had to have faith, it was what needed to happen. At points the faith I had faltered, which was okay because it always came back.

One reason I regained my faith in writing the book was because I had faith in God. I was confident He called me to write this weird book. Being a writing is who He called me to be, and this book had to be my first proper book. It was just how it needed to be.

With To Love I learned a lot, grew as an author, and God taught me a few things. It was tough, but I am grateful that I had God and my loved ones on my side.

Thank you to all who bought To Love
Want More?

To Love is sold on Amazon and if you would like to read more excerpts you can go the To Love Updates section of this site. I also created some fun promotional videos on Youtube.

My Warrior Cry: A Poem

My Warrior Cry: A Poem
Let this be my warrior cry.
If life is a battle field I will fight.
I am in God's army.
I will be on His side.
My battles are His.

Let me put on my armor.
I will stand my ground.
I will fight with God's righteous love,
not against the seen
but what is hiding underneath.
Want More?

If you would like to read more of my poetry please take a look at my portfolio. You can also watch a few of my poetry readings.

I want to love all

I want to love all

It doesn’t matter who you are or who you love; I want to love all. What that means is that even if I don’t agree with one aspect of your life, I will treat you how I want you to treat me and come alongside you to support you. It doesn’t matter if you follow different rules in your life or act differently than me. You are human and deserve my respect and love. We each have a different path to walk and we each need love and support on that walk.

Yes, I believe in the God of the Bible and try to imitate Jesus as much as I can. That is partly why I want to let you know that I will love you no matter who you are. Jesus loved those that society said he shouldn’t and showed kindness and respect to those forgotten or rejected by most.

Loving God helps me love others, and the second greatest commandment is “love your neighbor.” To me, everyone on this planet is my neighbor, so I’ll love everyone on this planet if they let me. It is as simple as showing others the respect and kindness that you want them to show to you, even if they are not acting the same way. Sometimes love is understanding that someone’s trauma or brokenness is preventing them from loving. That doesn’t mean you should stop loving.

Want More?

If you would like to keep more up to date with what I am doing I am on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You can also read about my life in my series God Shows Up or in the category “Life.”

Never Repeat (a poetry reading)

I'll Wait: A Throwback Video

Back in 2013 I wrote and posted Never Repeat. The next year I did a poetry reading of it. I was then going to put it in To Love, but as I edited it and focused the book on the love the poem didn’t fit anymore. Now I get to share it with you here, again.

Never repeat
not a single word
only write your heart,
the soul deep inside.
Let out one song
singing it loud
be proud
of the depths that are felt
dreams while live.
Remember this day
happens but once so
shine light with smiles,
cherish love
and see everything;
never repeating
not a single word.
Want More?

If you would like to read more of my poetry please take a look at my portfolio. You can also watch a few of my poetry readings.

3 Fun Facts About Me

3 fun facts about me

You may have noticed that about once a week I post somewhat random posts to this account. I call them my wildcard posts. I mean them to be fun insights to who I am. This week is no different. I want to pull back the curtain, so to speak, and show you a little more of me. However, this is going to be more direct.

I am simply going to share 3 facts about myself that you may not know.

  1. I have been in 25 musicals and 4 straight plays.
  2. About 11 years ago I became a Christian.
  3. I have 7 siblings

Want More?

If you would like to keep more up to date with what I am doing I am on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You can also read about my life in my series God Shows Up or in the category “Life.”

Reflection on a weird year

Reflection on a weird year

As the year ends, I like to reflect on what I’ve learned this year. We can all agree that 2020 has been a unique and challenging year.

If I knew a fraction of what was to come in this year, I may have thought differently about starting my art business in January. Of course, I am happy that I have worked more towards my ideal life in big ways.

I keep forgetting how much I’ve done this year and the good that this year brought me. I have been focusing on the craziness that has been happening and pulling me done.

This year I’ve published my first book (To Love) and really started promoting my poetry along with my visual art. I’ve experimented with different styles in digital art and different things to post on social media. Also, I’ve fine-tuned the focus on my art business and creative projects. This year has really been a year of growth for me in a lot of areas in my life. I am farther ahead in my art business. I am in a better mental health state since I’ve had so much time to journal and I have spent a lot more regular time with God too. Even with all the struggles, worries, and challenges this year, it has been a good year.

Want More?

If you would like to keep more up to date with what I am doing I am on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You can also read about my life in my series God Shows Up or in the category “Life.”

My Psalm 23: A Poem

In a Bible study I’m part of we practice putting scripture in our own words in order to better understand what the Bible says. I love doing this and once did it with Psalm 23. Here is my version of Psalm 23.

My Psalm 23
Lord, You are my leader and guide.
I will follow you.
You lead me to abudance in life 
and refreshment for my soul.
You restore my soul, which You created. 
You lead me on the path of what's right and good.
I may walk through scarry and dark times,
yet I don't have to fear anything.
You are with me.
You will protect me and that comforts me.
You prepare a wonderfull feast for me
and even though my enemies may be around
who cares?
You bless me and call me your own.
I overflow with Your blessings and love.
As I follow You Your goodness and Your mercy follow me.
Forever Your love will be with me
and I will love and live with You,
Forever.
Want more?

If you would like to read more of my poetry please take a look at my portfolio. You can also watch a few of my poetry readings.

My Wonderful New Tattoo And Tool

My Wonderful New Tattoo And Tool

One of my sisters has a tattoo machine and has tattooed herself a few times with it. She isn’t looking to change careers; she is happy being a nurse. The machine was her husband’s before he passed last year. The first tattoos she gave herself was ones that reminded her of him.

Well, in August I went on a vacation with my family. In between the actual vacation and my flight, I stayed at her house. This was so she could tattoo me. The original idea was a simple tree on the inside of my upper arm. It would be a remembrance tattoo for my brother who passed last year. (Yes, there were multiple deaths in my family in August 2019.) As we discussed it she mentioned that it would be the first tattoo she gave someone else. It was quickly decided we would start with an easier and less painful tattoo.

Now, it wasn’t like I just came up with my new tattoo on the vacation. I have a list of tattoos I want to get. My “love boldly” tattoo was just going to be after Chris’s tree. However, things didn’t work out that way and I got “love boldly” before the tree.

When I first painted this symbol something clicked, as though my eyes opened in a new way. This is what I need to remind myself daily. This is what I need to focus on. I need to love boldly. For me, that means to love without fear or holding back. Jesus loved the world boldly and I should try to imitate Jesus, right?

My “love boldly” symbol gives me permission in a way to free myself from myself and just love those around me. It reminds me that sometimes I need to get out of my own way and just help people or love them in whatever way they need it. Now it’s on my arm, so I guess I have to make sure I’m always boldly loving those around me. What a wonderful tool.

My Wonderful New Tattoo And Tool
Want More?

If you would like to keep more up to date with what I am doing I am on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. You can also read about my life in my series God Shows Up or in the category “Life.”